personal stylist in az Archives - Rochelle York Personal Stylist

Mom Life Essentials

Being a mom not only means caring for your little one, loving them unconditionally and putting them first in your life but it also means that you can’t do it alone. I am lucky enough to have my family and close friends but on top of that I need my “essentials” to get through the “I got 3 hours of sleep,” kind of day. So below are my top 7 items I needed to survive as a first time mom.

New moms often worry about every little thing when it comes to their baby (I am definitely one of those moms). So I ask a lot of questions and while asking those questions I found out about the app (that is also a book) The Wonder Weeks. It has more than 35 years of international scientific research that will keep you informed about the (mental) leaps and bounds of your baby. This app won prizes in several countries as the best parenting app! Think of it as a portable, at-a-glance version of the leap chart in weeks. The app is the perfect companion element to track your baby’s mental development (during the first 20 months). This has helped us on so many levels and let’s us know how long the good or bad leap is going to last and how we can help our babies through them. I paid $1.99 for this app and it was well worth it!

Boppy. When I was first registering I had no idea what a boppy was and never thought I would really use it, but I listened to some friends and registered for it anyway. Fast forward 10 months and I can honestly say that I use it every day. Not only do I use it when I am breastfeeding but it was great when my daughter was learning how to sit and practicing her tummy time. It has also saved her from many (almost) falls when she would lay back.

Coffee. I was never a big fan, I always liked tea or smoothies but never coffee….until I became a mom. When I would see comments scrolling through Facebook or Instagram reading “But First Coffee” I never really understood. But now? I get it! I need a caffeine fix every morning before I go to work but I have to be careful because I still breastfeed and I can only have a certain amount of caffeine a day. So my “go to” drink at Starbucks is an iced chai, coconut milk with a single shot. It is truly the little things in life that make all of the difference (and keep me awake).

I work full-time and sometimes have to travel, all while breastfeeding/pumping full time. This nursing poncho from Milkmaid Goods is amazing and is my ultimate essential. In this picture I am pumping at Sky Harbor Airport and feel completely comfortable because I am covered (if only it eliminated the loud pumping sound too). This cover is light weight and roomy for nursing and also doubles as a cover to put over the car set when my daughter is sleeping or a high chair when we are at a restaurant.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYPR5IQh_Tw&w=560&h=315]

Pumping, we all LOVE to HATE it but it’s what keeps the process going (if you know what I mean?!) My goal is one year of nursing so I pump when I am at work and before I go to bed….EVERY SINGLE DAY! With that being said I would keep track of how many minutes I pump for and how many ounces I get. Then about 4 months into pumping I found this free app from the Apple App Store called Pump Log. This log is amazing because it keeps track of how long I pump and how many ounces I have (freezer stash) and how many ounces I still need to hit my goal for nursing. You can also set a timer that reminds you when to pump during the day. #itspumpingtime

Car seat handles are very odd and you can never really feel comfortable when you are carrying your little one. Being only 5″1 I look pretty funny trying to carry my daughter in her car seat until now. LugBug came out with this nifty handle that connects to your car seat handle. It takes the straining away and is uniquely shaped to make it easy to maneuver your little tike around. The person that invented this device lives here in Arizona, he was also a first time dad when he thought of this concept. The cost is $39.99 and it comes in a wide variety of colors and is easy to attach to the baby carrier.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpnIxrMAxS0&w=560&h=315]

Mommy and Me Photos were a must for us because I noticed that when I would scroll through my pictures on my phone I had a lot of photos of her by herself or photos with her daddy (I was always taking the picture). This was fun for us and I would recommend it to any mom (especially a first time mom) because the first year goes by so fast and you want to look back and remember everything about your child at that very moment.

My mom recently brought my baby book over and I noticed that the baby book was filled with photos of me by myself and not enough photos with my mom in them. So, now it’s a birthday tradition every year during my birthday month I will get mommy and me photos with her. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Jenna Donato Photography!

So there we have it the 7 essentials that have helped me as a first time mom. Some of them were pretty easy to figure out (like the coffee) but I hope some of these really help you out whether you are a first time mom or are one kid number 5!

Style on ladies and gents!

xo,
Ro

July 11, 2016/by Rochelle York

fashion

Mom Life (is the best life)

This has been my first blog post since October and I am sad that I have not been documenting (through my blog) the last 8 1/2 months of my now “mom stylist life.” It has been a journey and boy do I give all of the moms out there a lot of credit because being a mom is hard but so fulfilling. I have never been so in love, challenged, determined and overjoyed all at the same time. She is 8 1/2 months and has already taught me to be patient, live in the moment, love unconditionally and not to care that the house isn’t perfectly clean.

Mom life is nothing that I ever thought it would be; it is truly so much more. That is why I am taking some time off from styling clients so I can spend more time with my love bug. I will continue to work with my existing clients but will not be taking on any new clients or jobs at this time. I hope to start meeting with new clients the first of the year (2017). But be sure to check back in for posts about breastfeeding fashion in the next couple of days because breastfeeding momma’s have to look stylish too 🙂

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

May 29, 2016/by Rochelle York

fashion

In Love.

When I would ask mother’s what it felt like to be a mother, they could never really explain it to me because they said that it was an, “unexplainable feeling.” Now I completely understand what they meant. This past month (September) has truly been the best month of my life because we got to meet our little bundle of joy. She is complete perfection and I am the luckiest mom in the world! The love I felt the moment I met her was so strong and amazing. I instantly felt like her protector and then I realized my name was no longer just Rochelle or Ro, it had been promoted to “Mom.”

The first couple of weeks weren’t easy by any means, no new moms talk about the first month as being hard and maybe even difficult (they just say how perfect everything is and post happy pictures on social media). Mat and I were extremely lucky because we had a very healthy baby (that wanted to eat 24/7 and not sleep…EVER) but breastfeeding was a bit of a struggle in the beginning. I was lucky enough to have a close friend who’s mom was a lactation counselor (which made my life so much easier and reassured me that I was doing everything right). I highly suggest if there are any new moms reading this that are struggling with breastfeeding find a lactation counselor or specialist. They will teach you tips and tricks to make breastfeeding easier for you and for your little one.

Also, if you are a working woman like me, you are used to being “on the go,” so being at home on maternity leave might make you a little stir crazy even though you are spending time with your little one. For me it was helpful to get out of my p.j.s in the morning and wear workout clothes (even though I am not working out). It just feels good to put something on that I wasn’t sleeping in and that I could leave the house in when I take my babe to her doctors appointments. It is also good to make a little time for yourself, even if it is just reading a magazine or taking a bubble bath for 30 minutes.

Hope these tips help my expecting momma friends out there. I also promise to start posting “fashion after baby,” once we start getting in a routine (I have a lot of great outfits for breastfeeding moms).

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

October 3, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

Hospital Bag Essentials (for you and baby)

So, I am a first time mom and for me everything you have to read up on and learn is a little overwhelming before baby get’s here. What type of breast pump if you’re breastfeeding, swaddle blankets (what type to get), car seats, strollers and the list goes on and on and on. But what I have learned over the last 9 months is to ask your mom, your doctor and your friends all of the questions in the world until you get everything answered (that is my tip for the day).

As for your hospital bag and babies hospital bag, I have read that it is good to start preparing your bag at 35 weeks because you never know when your little one will arrive. Being a first time mom I had absolutely no idea what to pack…..so I went to some of my expert friends to guide me and lead me in the right direction. So below are the items that I packed that will hopefully ease your mind because you now have a list to go by!

My hospital bag:

Toiletries– I bought my toothpaste, mini toothbrush, mouth wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant from Target in the travel isle near their cosmetics. If you are breastfeeding make sure to pack a good amount of nursing pads (the hospital gives you some but I heard that they aren’t very comfortable and kind of bulky) and nipple cream. I also packed her boppy for breastfeeding so she can get used to laying on it from the start! Also make sure to pack a good amount of maxi pads for after labor (another item I was told by my friends to pack).

Lounge Wear- As a personal stylist I had to have matching lounge wear when we start getting visitors at the hospital so my mom found me a comfy and fashionable pajama from Kohls by Vera Wang. It’s light weight, stretchy and super comfy. I actually packed to pj’s just in case. I also packed a robe, comfortable stretchy underwear, 2 pairs of fuzzy socks and my slippers.

Distractions- I know that sometimes labor is longer than anyone would expect so you have to be prepared. I am not sure how much I will really dig into these items (depending on how I feel) but I packed these items anyway just in case. My iPad and charger (also good for listening to iTunes or Pandora), gossip magazines (guilty I know), and current baby books I am reading at the moment: The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep, by Harvey Karp, M.D. and Your Baby’s First Year Week by Week, by Glade B. Curtis M.D. and Judith Schuler, M.S.

Snacks- This is important for the loved ones that will be with you in the delivery room because you can only eat so much out of a vending machine. So I packed almonds, fruit snacks, chex mix, chocolate chip cookies (for my husband because he is obsessed) and granola bars.

Capturing Moments- I made sure the first items that went into my bag were my camera, 2 camera cards (because everyone knows how many pictures I like to take), camera battery and charger.

Make-Up- One tip that I have read on various mom blogs is to make sure to bring your make-up bag because a lot of moms wish they had a little color in their face when they started taking their first family photos…..so I say this tip with a grain of salt because I think the last thing I am going to think about is putting blush on my cheeks before a family picture with the hospital photographer 🙂

Going Home Outfit- Last but not least remember to pack your going home outfit and make sure that it is loose and comfortable just incase you may have a c-section. So I packed 2 maxi dresses to choose from with ballet flats. Some of my favorite maxi dresses right now are at Anthropologie and Target perfect for fall into winter with a blazer or denim jacket!

Baby’s Hospital Bag (Diaper Bag):

Lounge Wear- I packed 2 short sleeve onsies and 1 long sleeve onsie (all with matching bows and hats) in case she is cold. I also packed 2 swaddle blankets that are very soft because I have noticed that the swaddle blankets they put the babies in at the hospital is not as soft as you would think (and not as pretty <3).

Toiletries- I made sure to pack, diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, Desitin, baby lotion and hand sanitizer (for the adults). I am sure the hospital provides these items but I packed them just in case.

Going Home Outfit- This part was very important to me, I went shopping for a couple of weeks until I found the perfect little outfit for her. We are not sure how big she will be so I packed one newborn outfit and one 3 month outfit both with matching socks and hats/bows.

Last Helpful Tips- Last but not least make sure to have your carseat ready and strapped in your car. I have read mom blogs that said that they packed everything but the carseat in the car, so their husband had to drive back home to get it. So make sure at week 35 to put the carseat in your car so you can be ready at any moment.

But in the end this will be the most amazing and memorable time of your life, so remember to enjoy every moment because you are about to meet your amazing bundle of joy!

Hope this post helped you on your packing adventure!

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

August 31, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

Is This Nesting?

I have read an insane amount of books on pregnancy and how to prepare for our amazing bundle of joy but I would have to say the most fun I have had during pregnancy is buying her cute little outfits and styling them (it’s the personal stylist in me I think). She already has a closet full of colorful outfits that can be mixed and matched! Out of all the baby clothing stores I have been to over the past 9 months, my favorite store would have to be Carters it’s my Nordstrom for baby clothes! As for her decor in her nursery my new obsession is Etsy, specifically KBCute. She is a local business owner here in Arizona and is amazing at what she does, she also makes custom orders, so if you’re a mom make sure to check her out!

I cannot believe in 4 short weeks I will be a mom. We are thrilled beyond belief and cannot wait to bring her home. So of course I had to pull a couple outfits for her to wear while she is in the hospital and when she comes home <3

Style On Ladies and Gents!

xo
Ro

August 20, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

My Manicure Art

I thought it would be fun to reflect on my nail art over the past year because I am in need of some new inspiration and want to try something different. I also noticed that I LOVE various pink shades and glitter, which is very fitting because I am having a little girl:). Enjoy and share!

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

July 27, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

LED Fashion Segment on “The List”

Check out my latest segment with the show “The List,” on LED Fashion and where the trend is headed. Our little one made her first television debut (I was 30 weeks pregnant when we shot this segment, you can see a quick shot of my baby belly and I love it!).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_uTqiCq1ks&w=500&h=281]

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

July 26, 2015/40 Comments/by Rochelle York

fashion

LED Fashion on “The List”

I recently teamed up with Channel 15’s show “The List,” to talk about LED Fashion. For those that don’t know what LED is, it’s a light emitting diode that emits light when activated. Typically when you think of LED lights you may think of digital signs on buildings, the Light Bright toy you played with when you were a child or anything electronic but now when you think of LED lights you can think of fashion!

Katy Perry made LED fashionable with her Light Up dress at the 2010 Met Gala, she wore a Cute Circuit gown that featured bright colored rope lights. Then later on Cute Circuit made a gown for Nicole Scherzinger with 2000 LED lights inertwined with 3000 swarovski crystals and the LED lights actually showed live tweets from her fans during her concert!

The young generation is taking over with their 2 favorite things, technology and fashion! Years ago this trend would have been considered weird but now this trend is a form of expression through fashion and it is becoming more popular as years go on. After entertainers broke through with LED fashion, everyday people jumped on the LED bandwagon by buying LED tshirts that can display messages and images from their smart phones. They are now even selling LED accessories to pair your look together with hats, jewelry, bow ties and even your shoes. Cute Circuit CEO Francessa Rosella told CNN that her latest dress changes color based on the movement of the person wearing it. So this will hopefully encourage more people to be more active!

Make sure to tune in this Tuesday, July 21st at 4:30 on Channel 15’s “The List,” to see the segment but if you don’t live in Arizona check your local listing on www.thelisttv.com. Special thanks to Clothes Minded Boutique in Phoenix, AZ for letting us shoot at their beautiful boutique, although they do not carry LED fashion, they carry amazing pieces at affordable prices.

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

July 19, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

Father’s Day Maternity Shoot <3

What better way to spend father’s day than with the one you love that will soon be a father in a few short months. I can’t believe how fast time has flew by. I remember the first day we met, our first kiss, our first dance as a married couple and all of the amazing memories in-between. Now we are bringing a beautiful little girl into this world that will soon conquer it with all she has.

During my pregnancy I have been counting down the days for our maternity shoot because I cannot wait for her to see these pictures when she is older. So, as a stylist I am always thinking about what type of “look” I want to go for in a shoot and for our maternity shoot I knew exactly what I wanted and Ashley Lorraine Photography captured it perfectly through her camera lens. I LOVE spring time…even though it was 110 degrees outside and the middle of June I wanted it to look like a beautiful spring day in a garden and that is exactly what it looked like! Our photographer captured a beautiful “spring day,” with oranges on the floor as a perfect final touch.

1st look
White Dress|Asos Maternity Turquoise Necklace|Kendra Scott Nude Heels|Steve Madden Gold Watch|Michael Kors

2nd look
Light Pink Maxi|Asos Maternity

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

July 6, 2015/by Rochelle York

fashion

Baby Shower Bliss

The past couple of months have been filled with baby registries (having no idea what to register for), getting her room ready, picking out baby shower invites, baby shower decorations and planning and attending family and friend baby showers. It has been an amazing time doing all of this and sharing this experience with all of my loved ones. I couldn’t have asked for a better support system and I am forever grateful. My beautiful and amazing mom has played a key role in all of this because she is a, “party planner” at heart. As you can see from the pictures below she knows her stuff and thought of every key detail from the games to the watermelon baby and beautiful princess diaper cake 🙂

Hope you are all having an amazing father’s day today! Happy father’s day to my amazing dad. I love you <3

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

June 22, 2015/by Rochelle York

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